'Balikbayan' discovers a 'piece of home' in DMCI Homes Siena Park Residences

No matter where life takes you, you’ll always find your way back home.

This saying especially holds true for retired nurse manager Julie Southern, who despite moving for good in the United Kingdom, still longs to go on vacation in her home country, the Philippines, every time there is an opportunity to do so.

Thankfully for Southern and her British husband Anthony, they have found a ‘piece of home’ in their 3-bedroom condominium unit in DMCI Homes’ Siena Park Residences community which they come to visit every year. 

“We got our property in Siena Park Residences in 2013 and every now and then we come here. Before we would stay for 3 weeks but now that me and my husband are both retired, we would stay longer like four months this time around,” Southern shared during their recent vacation in the Philippines.

Though they only discovered the property online when they were searching for an investment home in the Philippines, Southern said they got all they wanted for in a condo with their unit in Siena Park Residences particularly the generous open spaces and resort-inspired amenities.

“My husband loves this community. He loves Siena. He’s got loads of friends here, Filipino friends. They enjoy sports. That’s their hobby. Swimming (also). And then now they play tennis as well as cycling,” she revealed.

“Lahat puwede mong gawin, nakakaikot-ikot ka, bike (around). ‘Yun ang nagustuhan ng husband ko,” she explained.

Having made a lot of friends in the condo community, Southern and her husband would host get-togethers for their neighbors and Property Management Office (PMO) staff each time they are in the Philippines.

“I like cooking. That’s the reason why I like get-togethers, socializations. We just had a get-together with the maintenance workers of Siena Park just to give them a big ‘thank you’ for all the services they are giving us,” she related.

Having lived abroad most of her life, it is the community development activities in the Bicutan, Parañaque condo community that Southern cherishes the most as they help satisfy her longing for Filipino culture and traditions.

“In Siena it’s the community feel, ‘yun talaga ‘yung (maganda). Maganda ang samahan ng Siena. May mga activities na nag-e-enjoy kami. Mayroong fiesta, may Flores de Mayo. ’Yun ang something na parang nasa labas ka rin pero nasa condo place ka,” she explained. 

“May mga friends kasi ako na may condo rin pero wala silang ganito na community kaya mas feel namin ang pag-stay. Sinasabi nila na, ‘ang ganda ng samahan niyo.’ Iba daw dito sa Siena,” she continued.

Delighted with her purchase, Southern has invested in another condo unit in DMCI Homes’ Verawood Residences in Acacia Estates, Taguig and plans to acquire more property from her trusted developer in the future.

“It’s my second purchase. After two years kumuha ako ulit ng unit because I believe in property investment. Now pinaparentahan ko na rin siya. So it’s a good investment,” she said in reference to her Verawood Residences property.

“Aside from gusto ko talaga ang DMCI Homes, nakita ko kasi ‘yung differences niya sa ibang developers. Maliliit ang unit nila (other developers). Ang DMCI ay malaki saka malamig. Hindi siya kulob na kulob,” she said, pointing out the advantages of DMCI Homes over other condo developers in the country.

Thus, although she is now happily living overseas, Southern is at peace knowing she has a “wonderful place” to come home to in the Philippines with her unit in Siena Park Residences.

“This is our home. My husband considers it as his home as well. I feel I’m secured here. It’s a wonderful place to live in,” Southern revealed.

“It’s one of the things na masasabi ko na masaya kami ng aking asawa, ng aking pamilya. Buo kaming nagsasabi na, ‘ah maganda dito.’ I’m enjoying myself so is my husband and that’s all that matters really for us,” she ended.

To learn more about Siena Park Residences and other DMCI Homes projects, call (632) 324-8888.  News and other updates are also posted on the company's official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.